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* ICYMI: Brandon Johnson says city and state finances are at a ‘point of no return’. Crain’s…
* Related stories…
* At 3 pm Governor Pritzker will unveil this year’s Butter Cow at the 2025 Illinois State Fair. Click here to watch.
* WGLT | Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman to run for state representative: Longtime Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman said Tuesday he will run for the Republican nomination for state representative in the 105th District. Ruestman’s announcement followed shortly after current state Rep. Dennis Tipsword decided not to seek re-election, pivoting to run for Woodford County sheriff. Ruestman has served as Woodford County coroner for over 30 years and said he “brings a record of integrity, public service, and deep-rooted community values to the race.”
* Crain’s | RTA warns: Fare hikes are coming, one way or another: The Regional Transportation Authority has told budget planners for Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace to start coming up with a Plan A and Plan B for dealing with a $771 million shortfall when pandemic-era federal funding runs out next year. One scenario assumes state legislators will come up with funding later this year; the other assumes there is no new money. Budgets are due in early October.
* WBEZ | Rapid response team helps families find trans health care in Illinois: Illinois has joined a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to limit gender affirming care for young people. This comes as the fourth major hospital in Chicago rolls back the kind of care offered to patients under 19. To fill in these gaps, a rapid response team of volunteers is working to connect families to alternate providers.
* WTTW | Illinois Faces Looming Health Crisis as Medicaid Cuts Threaten Coverage, Hospitals and Rural Access: Recent figures estimate 330,000 Illinois residents could lose health coverage under the plan. Many who spoke with WTTW News said the law will lead more uninsured patients to seek emergency care, often with advanced conditions. Medicaid covers more than 3.4 million people in the state including children, seniors and adults with disabilities, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Estimates show 35.6% of Illinois residents had public health insurance in 2023, up 2.1 percentage points from 2019, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
* WIFR | Illinois representative Maurice West announces re-election campaign for 67th district: “Since I was first elected, I’ve worked collaboratively with anyone who is ready to invest in our region, grow good paying jobs, and make our community more vibrant,” said West. “Especially with the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C. right now, we need local leaders who are ready to step up and do what is right for our people. I would be honored to be reelected to continue this fight for this place I love so much.”
* Sun-Times | Pritzker says Illinois remap is possible as DNC chair vows to fight Texas GOP efforts ‘tooth and nail’: An Illinois remap would reignite a war with the state’s Republicans, who have railed on the state’s redistricting process for decades. On Sunday, Pritzker vowed, “All bets are off. Everything’s got to be on the table.” By Tuesday, the governor said an Illinois remap was “possible.”
* Sun-Times | Gov. JB Pritzker riffs on his wealth and staying out of prison in Stephen Colbert appearance: The late night host held up a map of Illinois’ congressional districts, noting the unusual shapes of the 17th and 13th congressional districts, as the state becomes a focal point during the latest redistricting talks. Republicans hold just three congressional seats in a state that saw 43.8% vote for Trump last year. The maps Illinois Democrats approved in 2021 sealed in their political power for a decade. “It’s like the stinger on a scorpion down there,” Colbert said of the 13th District, which stretches from central to southern Illinois. “Is this common for all states to do?” “We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide,” Pritzker joked. “…That’s our independent commission.”
* WAND | Pritzker signs bill addressing school, athletic events conflicting with cultural, religious holidays: The law will not allow for school closures or excused absences due to cultural reasons, but sponsors said it could assist districts with planning events around observances. “We’ve got wonderful models,” said Amy Zimmerman with Jewish United Fund. “Washington state has a very easily accessible list. Even Wilmette School District has a nice list as well. They not only have the date, they tell you a little bit about the holiday.”
* Bloomberg | S&P Warns Chicago That Pension Cost-Hike to Pressure Budget: “With the passage of this legislation, the prognosis for Chicago’s long-term fiscal health has weakened,” S&P analysts led by Scott Nees wrote. “Chicago will now face a steepening outyear pension cost curve even as it currently faces a fiscal 2026 budget gap that we already expected would probably be the largest in the city’s history.”
* Sun-Times | Strong O’Hare, tourism stats show Mayor Johnson is ‘pro-business’ and ‘pro-worker,’ he says: Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday cited strong tourism and O’Hare Airport travel numbers to promote himself as “pro-business, pro-growth and pro-worker,” even as he demands that businesses and wealthy Chicagoans “put more skin in the game.” Johnson’s weekly City Hall news conference began with an avalanche of statistics showcasing Chicago’s economic comeback on the travel and tourism fronts. Seven of the ten busiest days in the history of O’Hare Airport occurred this summer, culminating on June 20, when the Transportation Security Administration set a new record by screening nearly 116,000 passengers on a single day.
* Sun-Times | Feds, Chicago police arrest 41 in probe targeting machine-gun conversion devices: The investigation resulted in the recovery of 64 switch devices and 171 guns, many of which were linked to shootings, killings and other “violent criminal activity” dating back to 2017. The switches, officially known as “auto sears,” are also called buttons on the street. Alec Chisolm-Blockton, 29, was on parole for fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy in suburban St. Louis when he was caught selling three guns to undercover officers this summer. He now faces a federal charge of possessing a gun as a felon, court records show.
* Crain’s | Merchandise Mart hits the market as owner Vornado eyes N.Y.-only portfolio: Vornado Realty Trust is looking to sell the Merchandise Mart plus three office towers in San Francisco, CEO Steven Roth told analysts today. Those transactions, if struck, would leave the developer with a portfolio almost entirely in New York. The Mart, a sprawling 3.7 million square-foot building, is the largest in Vornado’s 26 million square-foot portfolio but is 22% vacant, a reflection of ongoing challenges for Chicago’s office market. The other property on the sale block, 555 California St. in San Francisco, is a three-building complex holding 1.8 million square feet with an 8% vacancy rate — low in a city where the average is 36%. The building is 70%-owned by Vornado; the rest belongs to President Donald Trump’s Trump Organization.
* WBEZ | Chicago’s growing film industry brings a boon to local antique shops and prop houses: The Lost Eras antique shop overflows with old telephones, fedoras, uranium glassware and other items seen not only by patrons, but also millions of movie and TV fans. On a recent workday, owner Charlotte Walters pointed out the rug used in the death scene for Sean Connery’s character in “The Untouchables.” She also pulled out some lights from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. Hidden somewhere, she said, are shoes worn by a background actor on the set of “True Lies.”
* WBEZ | What a failed robbery from 1951 tells us about Chicago crime: You’ve likely heard of big names in crime like Al Capone, Sam Giancana and the Chicago Outfit. And while the Butcher Smock Mob isn’t a household name, it is catchy, and their story is part of Chicago’s history of organized crime. Entangled in this history is that of Brink’s guard Emmett Ebert, a future Chicago police detective who would later investigate Chicago’s many mob figures.
* Sun-Times | Chicago Abortion Fund to receive $2 million grant from Cook County: “These funds are meant to support women who live in Cook County, as well as those coming to our region in search of care that they’ve been unfairly denied in their own communities,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who also attended the news conference. The Chicago Abortion Fund was selected by Cook County to receive its $2 million grant, which was built into the county budget this year. The Chicago Abortion Fund was selected through a procurement process by the county, but it was the sole applicant for the grant. The Cook County Health Board of Directors will give a final vote on the grant this month, Preckwinkle said.
* Legal Newsline | Aurora to face suit over allegedly coercing ‘warrantless searches’: An Illinois state appeals panel will allow the owner of an apartment complex and one of their tenants to continue pressing at least part of their challenge to a so-called crime free housing ordinance in the city of Aurora, as they accuse Illinois’ second largest city of allegedly illegally compelling landlords to coerce tenants into warrantless apartment inspections. DPH Aurora Properties and one of its tenants, Belén González, sued west suburban Aurora in March 2024 following a disagreement over whether tenants could deny access to apartment units.
* Daily Herald | Board rebukes Wauconda trustee for comments made as a passenger during traffic stop: “On Sunday, July 13, I broke no laws,” she said. “After months of having my civil liberties trampled on, I did lose my cool.” She said she always separated her personal life from professional decisions and will continue to do so until the end of her board term in 2027.
* Aurora Beacon-News | Geneva mayor taps former Aurora deputy chief of staff Alex Voigt for city administrator job: Former Aurora deputy chief of staff Alex Voigt is taking over as Geneva’s next city administrator. She’s replacing Stephanie Dawkins, who is set to retire later this month. Voigt’s appointment by Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns was approved unanimously by the Geneva City Council at its meeting Monday evening. […] She is expected to start as city administrator in early September, according to the city.
* A Naperville woman has accused DuPage County GOP Chair Kevin Coyne of alleged bullying and sexual harassment…
* Naperville Sun | Naperville D203 School Board opposes city renewing IMEA contract: As a major consumer of electricity in Naperville, District 203 School Board members say they are adamantly opposed to the city extending its contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency. On Monday the board unanimously approved a statement urging the Naperville City Council to explore cleaner and more flexible energy sources rather than signing on again with a group that’s largely reliant on coal to produce energy.
* Naperville Sun | Naperville teachers say District 203’s dragging out contract talks: ‘I’m tired of every contract being a battle’: In July, the union initiated the public posting process with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, which is the first step toward a possible strike. Union leadership indicated they do not want to go on strike, but want to be transparent with the community. Several teachers said they have serious concerns about earning a competitive salary. Berkley said the district is falling behind other school districts, including Indian Prairie School District 204, Elmhurst District 204, St. Charles District 303, Wheaton District 200 and Plainfield District 202. Teacher workload has increased with the expectation of differentiated learning and increased student academic, behavior and social-emotional needs.
* Naperville Sun | Naperville saw a 51.8% jump in DUI arrests in last year, AAIM reports: Naperville police made 258 drunken driving arrests in 2024, a 51.8% increase over the 170 made in 2023, according to the annual survey by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists. The number put the city at No. 4 on the list of top 10 municipalities with the most DUI arrests. In last year’s survey, Naperville ranked No. 15.
* Elgin Courier-News | District U-46 superintendent to be paid nearly $300,000 under new contract: District U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson’s base salary will be nearly $300,000 in the first year of a new 5-year contract approved Monday night by the school board. […] Under the new agreement, Johnson’s goals will be to drive student attainment of literacy and math skills, develop a plan to increase attendance to 90%, enhance the climate and culture of U-46 schools, and prepare students for their lives and careers beyond school.
* 25News Now | Tariff uncertainty ‘will not stop’ Central Illinois farmers as harvest season approaches: While tariff uncertainty remains in the agriculture world, Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Charlie Hensley said it will not stop farmers from completing the harvest season. “We want to see those markets continue to grow, and we want to provide ways for farmers to make the most out of what they grow,” Hensley said. He hopes the U.S. continues its expanded trade agreements, which will continue to grow and have better access to foreign markets.
* WTVO | Boone County clerk resigns amid theft and fraud allegations: Boone County Clerk Julie Bliss resigned her position last week, the same day she agreed to a plea deal on accusations of theft, wire fraud, and official misconduct. Bliss was indicted by a grand jury in August 2023 and has been on administrative leave ever since. Her arrest came after a clerk’s office employee reported irregularities in two county bank accounts.
* BND | Belleville withheld information on solar farm from public, opponents say: Belleville officials talked to local “partners” and submitted letters of support from eight civic leaders in preparing the city’s application for state incentives to build a solar farm at Mount Hope Cemetery. But they didn’t reach out to the hundreds of families with loved ones buried in the cemetery or 17 neighbors with property abutting it, according to solar-farm opponents.
* WMBD | Morton joins other central Illinois cities to implement local grocery tax: The village Board of Trustees approved the 1% local tax at Monday night’s meeting. There was no discussion on the topic from Trustees, and the only no vote was from Trustee Steve Leitch. The local tax replaces a similar state tax that is set to expire at the end of this year.
* WTVO | Rockford launches new initiative to tackle drug and mental health issues: The Northwest Illinois Deflection Initiative provides specialists who work with police officers and first responders to refer individuals to appropriate services. This approach is intended to offer support and resources to those facing challenges related to drug use or mental health. Program administrators highlight that officers are often the first to encounter individuals in need of help, making their role crucial in the deflection process.
* WCIA | ‘It was kind of very sudden, very fast’: Proposed apartment complex in Rantoul sparks mixed reactions: A property management company is hoping to demolish a trailer park to put up an apartment complex. Village officials said the new apartments will bring in more revenue and help the neighborhood’s curb appeal. Board members talked about the possibility of a new apartment complex near downtown Tuesday night. “Any time you get new construction, but certainly when you’re replacing old trailer park residential living versus new professional apartment style rentals, I think makes a significant difference,” Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer said.
* WCIA | Riggs partners with Farm Progress Show to launch exclusive lager: One Central Illinois-based beer company has launched an exclusive lager through a partnership with an annual farm show. Riggs Beer Company has introduced an exclusive American Lager in collaboration with the Farm Progress Show. The beer is available now at the brewery and select locations ahead of the show’s 20th anniversary at its permanent biennial Decatur site.
* WGLT | Work begins on Route 66 Trail extension connecting McLean and Funks Grove: As drivers prepare for a cruise down Route 66 during next year’s centennial, a trail extension in southern McLean County will get bicyclists one step closer to a continuous safe path between Bloomington and St. Louis just beside the Mother Road. Local, county and state officials met Tuesday in the village of McLean to announce work is underway on a 4.5-mile path extender of the Route 66 Trail, connecting McLean to Funks Grove. That’s just southwest of Bloomington-Normal. It’s a significant stepping stone to connecting two trail systems in McLean County.
* Capitol News Illinois | Budweiser Clydesdales to come to Illinois State Fair: Anheuser-Busch says the Budweiser Clydesdales will spend a few days at the fair, appearing first at the Twilight Parade Thursday, August 7. The appearances are part of a celebration of the company’s fifteen years of partnership with “Folds of Honor,” which gives scholarships to families of fallen or disabled U.S. Service members, and first responders. The appearance at the State Fair is part of a nationwide tour recognizing the partnership.
* The Atlantic | Why the White House Backed Down From Its First Big Education Cuts: That an incoming official of the Department of Education was touting the importance of federal dollars for a heavily Republican state underscores the conundrum that President Donald Trump faces in his attempt to dismantle the agency. On the campaign trail, Trump’s promise to “send education back to the states” was often greeted with applause, and the Supreme Court has allowed the president to go ahead with his plans to gut the Education Department. But the four-week funding freeze—and the backlash it sparked—showed that cutting popular programs for schoolkids can be as unwelcome in Trump country as it is in coastal cities.
* AP | RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted. […] The health secretary criticized mRNA vaccines in a video on his social media accounts, explaining the decision to cancel projects being led by the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, that offer protection against viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1. “To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we’re prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate,” Kennedy said in the video.
* NYT | Uber’s Festering Sexual Assault Problem: From 2017 to 2022, a total of 400,181 Uber trips resulted in reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in the United States, court documents show. Previously, the company had disclosed 12,522 accounts of serious sexual assaults for that same time period, without indicating the total number of sexual assault and sexual misconduct reports it received. Uber has not released data for the years since then, though the court records indicate reports of incidents have increased.
posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 7:48 am
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
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Wow! Pretty surprised by Mayor Johnson’s strong language. I realize Chicago’s finances are pretty tattered. But it’s rare that a politician will admit as much.
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:04 am
= Teacher workload has increased with the expectation of differentiated learning and increased student academic, behavior and social-emotional needs.=
Who is going to tell them this isn’t an increase but a minimum expectation?
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:04 am
What does parental rights Jeannie Ives have to say about her DuPage Republican Chair. Does the “Daddy Complex” fit her family values?
Comment by Sigh Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:10 am
So, Pritzker is more interested in playing the political game than standing up for the voters in Illinois that have been wronged by gerrymandering. Thet talk the talk of Voters Rights but never walk the walk of voter integrity.
Comment by Arock Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:16 am
==So, Pritzker is more interested in playing the political game than standing up for the voters in Illinois that have been wronged by gerrymandering.==
I’m not always Team Pritzker, but if your takeaway from looking at the national landscape is “the Democrats are in the wrong for failing to unilaterally disarm on the issue of gerrymandering in Illinois,” you’re just not taking a good-faith view of events. I’m proud that the Governor is standing up for voters like me who oppose the escalation that the GOP is engaging in.
Comment by Garfield Ridge Guy Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:56 am
=So, Pritzker is more interested in playing the political game than standing up for the voters in Illinois that have been wronged by gerrymandering.=
Oh please, the blame for this issue lies squarely with the President and Governor of Texas. Pritzker and other like minded governors are responding out of necessity. The voters have also been “wronged” by an inept ILGOP who can’t run electable statewide candidates.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:58 am
It appears a bit of glitter has fallen from the JB dynasty.
Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 8:59 am
==The voters have also been “wronged” by an inept ILGOP who can’t run electable statewide candidates.==
I think this confuses cause and effect. If we can presuppose that Richard Irvin was, statewide, a more electable candidate than Darren Bailey (while also acknowledging that Irvin had virtually no chance against Pritzker), then the ILGOP voters got exactly what they wanted. They would rather rage, rage against the dying of the party than engage in statewide politics, and that’s what they did. That’s what they’re going to keep doing for the foreseeable future, so there’s really no reason to assign any blame, or credit, to any state Republican to anything that happens on the state level.
Gerrymandering also makes primary elections more important than general elections, because primary voters tend to represent the tails of the parties more than general-election voters do. The system is working in Illinois–as in, the Dems run things, and the ILGOP wants to sit things out, so they are.
Comment by Garfield Ridge Guy Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:03 am
==It appears a bit of glitter has fallen from the JB dynasty.==
How so?
Comment by low level Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:11 am
Well now we know Brandon plans to balance his budget with pixie dust and magic gold coins he expects will fall from the the sky. at
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:17 am
== the governor said an Illinois remap was “possible.” ==
Is it possible to gerrymander the Illinois map any more than it already is?
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:19 am
I am pleased to see our governor along with other state democratic leaders willing to finally engage in tackle football instead of using flag football rules while playing in the superbowl of politics.
The yapping yam isn’t hiding who and what he is and I have no sympathy for his followers who are clutching their pearls now that the opposition is finally showing signs of giving up on unilateral disarmament. The only way gerrymandering will ultimately end is on the national stage and that won’t happen if all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks are ceded to one party.
Comment by former southerner Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:22 am
–
Is it possible to gerrymander the Illinois map any more than it already is?
–
There’s a theoretical map floating around where every single district is D. It basically looks like spokes on a wheel with Chicago at the center of every spoke.
Frankly, at this point it should be implemented.
The only way to change this status quo, is to follow the current rules to their absurd conclusion. It’s the only way to get both parties to agree to support a permanent change. Otherwise it’s just going to continue with this nibbling at the edges for the next 200 years. Well, that’s also me being optimistic that the US will still exist in 200 years if this isn’t changed.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:30 am
== will not stop farmers from completing the harvest season ==
Duh. The decision to plant was made almost a year ago … so they will definitely harvest. Now whether they take the crop to market or sit on it is a different issue. Bigger farms have likely pre-sold a significant portion, so it’s likely the smaller farmers who will be more affected by any tariffs.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:32 am
“It appears a bit of glitter has fallen from the JB dynasty.”
LOL. I’ve never supported him more. Gerrymander Illinois to the maximum degree possible. If you don’t like it, I hear Indiana is breathtaking this time of year. And such low taxes!
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:33 am
=It appears a bit of glitter has fallen from the JB dynasty.=
Well I think the first step for the ILGOP would be to find a candidate to run against him or any other statewide elected for that matter. Republican day is next week and it looks like they’re poised for an empty stage of candidates. But maybe this is what “winning” looks like to the ILGOP?
But sure, go ahead and elaborate on how you’re got JB on the ropes.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:51 am
“LOL. I’ve never supported him more”
He just signed a bill that added 11B in debt to Chicago’s balance sheet. Our credit rating may become “junk” with a few months.
How much more in taxes will Chicago households earning less than 80k per year have to pay because Governor Pritzker signed that bill?
How many potential startups/established companies think 2x about setting up shop in Chicago because they see unfunded pensions, and {correctly) assume that significant tax hikes are in the offing?
Comment by The Farm Grad Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:54 am
JB will be a hero to most Illinois folks. Nationally he is toast.
Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 9:55 am
Texas is growing so quickly it is expected to pick up four Congressional districts in 2030. Illinois is expected to lose two. These are current estimates and conditions may change. California and Texas are so large they could be divided into two States.
Comment by Jack in Chatham Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 10:05 am
== will not stop farmers from completing the harvest season ==
They also have the problem that corn and soybean crops, in Central Illinois at least, have never looked better.
Comment by Bigtwich Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 10:09 am
==Is it possible to gerrymander the Illinois map any more than it already is?==
Its possible to gerrymander Texas more than it already was. Thats why they are having the special session. When they and Florida start drawing fair maps, get back to us.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 10:29 am
That DuPage county stuff is quite the read…
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 10:33 am
JB is a hero to most Illinois folks?
Illinois congressional districts are among the worst in the country with regard to gerrymandering- rated F
Since when does the F student get to lecture the class?
He also shouldn’t lecture anyone about how he has stabilized pensions, government finances or reduced tax burden on working families
The Mayor now says city and state finances are past the point of no return.
Downgrades are coming because over 11 billion was just added to a 36 billion dollar pension debt with the Governors signature last Friday.
What business in it’s right mind would choose to expand in Chicago?
Comment by Johnny B Wednesday, Aug 6, 25 @ 10:41 am